Cardinal Tagle to local leaders: Don’t use papal visit for personal gains

(Updated 4:25 p.m.) Don't use the coming papal visit for personal gains.

On Tuesday, Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle called on local communities, particularly its leaders, who may wish to welcome Pope Francis with banners and other festive decorations to keep their preparations simple, in line with the Pontiff's request.

 

In an interview, Tagle also asked politicians not to use such welcome for their personal benefit, particularly to push their agenda in line with the coming 2016 elections.

 

"Hindi naman masama na magpakita ang mga communities ng kanilang sariling pamamaraan sa pag-welcome sa Pope. Tayong mga Pilipino, may banderitas, may mga bandera, at iba pa. Ang paalala lang po, una sa lahat, 'wag nating gagawing masyadong magastos kung anuman ang pamamaraan ng ating pag-welcome. Alam naman natin na ang Papa ay nananawagan ng kasimplehan kundi sa tawag na rin ng panahon. Pwede naman tayong maging hospitable sa pamamaraang warm at simple," he said.

 

He added,  "'Wag naman nating gamitin 'yung okasyon para sa iba pang motibasyon gaya ng, sabi nga ng iba, baka self promotion, o baka simula na ng kampanya ng sarili. Kung magwe-welcome, mag-welcome. Gamitin ang pangalan siguro ng sambayanan, at hindi na 'yung tawag pansin para sa sarili."

 

"Sana kaunting paglalagay sa tama, sa okasyon... Ito ay pastoral visit,' wag sanang gamitin sa personal na interes," Tagle told reporters.

Asked during the press briefing if it would be all right for communities and their leaders to produce welcome banners and tarpaulins, Tagle joked: "Basta welcome lang! Baka 'Welcome, Pope!' tapos hindi mukha ni Pope ang nandoon. Iba na 'yon."

 

The cardinal also asked the communities to make sure that their decorations would not accumulate into trash by the end of the visit, reminding them that the Pope is also concerned with the environment.

 

Preparations are underway for Pope Francis' visit to the Philippines, set on January 15 to 19.

 

Most of his activities during the visit will be in Manila and Pasay City, including a meeting of families at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, meeting with the youth and leaders of other religions at the University of Santo Tomas, and a concluding mass at Luneta Park.

 

Among the highlights of the visit, however, is the Pope spending a day at Tacloban and Palo in Leyte to visit the survivors of super typhoon Yolanda. — RSJ, GMA News